MUW offers majors in Biology (B.A. and B.S.), Microbiology (B.A. and B.S.), and Biology with Teacher Certification.

The biological sciences offer a broad range of coursework and opportunities to students. The Biology and Microbiology majors both start with the same collection of central biology courses. A student then can branch out or focus their studies through the wide variety of advanced biology courses offered. Courses are offered on plants, animals, ecology, physiology, anatomy, cell biology, molecular biology, and evolution.

MUW graduates in Biology and Microbiology are well prepared for the next step in their academic and/or professional lives. Students continue on to graduate school, industry positions, teaching positions, and professional programs. MUW offers all the pre-requisite coursework required for admission to professional programs in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, optometry, and veterinary medicine and has academic advisors who are knowledgeable about admissions requirements of these programs.

Many students complete a faculty/student research project or internship either at MUW or at another institution during the summer. Here at MUW, Dr. Ross Whitwam and Dr. Lauren Brandon have each been awarded five-year grants from the National Institutes of Health which have allowed them to establish a well equipped functional genomics research laboratory in Parkinson Hall. Dr. Whitwam and Dr. Brandon have several students involved in their research efforts at any point in time. The grant funds have allowed for the purchase of state-of-the-art equipment, faculty release time, stipends for student researchers, and student travel to professional meetings.


Department of Sciences and Mathematics
Mississippi University for Women
1100 College Street, MUW-100
Columbus, MS 39701
(662) 329-7376

Fax (662) 329-7238